[Wombat101]

If I recall correctly, there have been several presidents in thhistory of this country who never held elective office before. George Washington, for example, comes to mind.

However, Ms. Rice does have quite a few factors in her favor should she decided to ever do so: she's intelligent (as opposed to what passes for educated these days), articulate, not given to rhetorical excess, she's experienced in the foreign policy field. She would certainly make a much better candidate than 90% of the Republicans currently in office and certainly 100% of the democarts (small 'd' intentional).

If your criteria for running for higher office is that one should have held some lesser office first, I remind you that the Hildebeest never held anything (including her husband) and still managed to get a fair percentage of us brain-dead NY'ers to vote her into the Senate. She's been bandied about as a Presidential contender from day one.

Condi Rice would beat the crusty, black pantsuit off of that carpetbagger and definately clean John Kerry's clock, IMO.

[RebelBanker]

I agree with your assessment of Dr. Rice's intelligence, experience and character, but must respectfully disagree with your evaluation of her electability. I am not using experience in a lower elected office as a criterion for ability to do the job, but ability to campaign effectively. Unfortunately, good people who do not have campaign experience very often make "rookie" mistakes that end up derailing their own campaigns.

[Oberon]

Condi Rice would beat the crusty, black pantsuit off of that carpetbagger and definately clean John Kerry's clock, IMO.

YEAH she would. Just imagine the consternation among the Dem rank and file should Ms. Rice run...and the first serious black female candidate for president (or VP) is nominated by the Republicans! Wouldn't that throw a wrench into the liberal worldview?

I mean, what do you do if you're a solid Al Sharpton voter, and Condi Rice's name is on the ballot? You'd have an ideological nervous breakdown, that's what, because you've believed ever since you became political that the Republicans are the party of the privileged white male.